Where the voice of south is not heard
Date:15/08/2004 URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/15/stories/20
04081503541600.htm
By T. Ramakrishnan
Students at Sri Ahobila Math Veda Patasala in
Chennai. -- Photo: K.V. Srinivasan
CHENNAI, AUG. 14. Southern States account for
a large number of Veda Patasalas. But those
who run the traditional schools say that
their voice is not heard at the Centre.
Though the number of students in Patasalas is
going up in the south, the representation of
Vedic scholars from the south in the
governing council of the Ujjain-based
Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Vidya
Pratishthan, an autonomous body for the
promotion of Vedic studies under the Union
Human Resources Ministry, is not much," says
N.K. Vasudevachariar, secretary of Sri
Ahobila Math Veda Patasala, West Mambalam,
Chennai. V. Rajagopala Ganapathigal, who runs
Sitharama Gurukulam for about 10 years, says
the feeling that the south is neglected is
widely prevalent.
"Varanasi, once considered the seat of Vedic
learning, has lost its status. Compared to
the north, the south has more Patasalas and
new institutions are coming up, says M.
Subbaraman, executive trustee of the
41-year-old Veda Rakshana Nidhi Trust, which
provides financial assistance to numerous
Patasalas. He says the southern States have
about 400 Patasalas.
Even the establishment concedes that the
south has outscored the north.
`No discrimination'
"Most of the Patasalas are in the south,"
says Omprakash Pandey, secretary of the
Pratishthan. But he hastens to add that the
issue of representation has to be addressed
by the Ministry as "the matter is beyond my
powers."
Prof. Pandey says that when it comes to the
release of funds, his institution does not
discriminate among the Patasalas on a
regional basis. "We follow well-laid out
norms," the official says.
He also agrees that the amount of honorarium
and stipend is low. At present, a full-time
teacher is paid Rs. 5,500 a month or Rs.
6,500 a month depending on the
qualifications. The Patasalas demand that it
be increased to Rs. 10,000. Similarly, a
full-time Vedic student should be given a
stipend of Rs. 1,000 instead of Rs. 500. The
Pratishthan has taken up the matter with the
Ministry.
Another complaint from the south is that the
two proposed Vedic research centres are to be
set up in New Delhi and Allahabad. Prof.
Pandey's reply: "It is all only in the
formative stage. Anyway, I will take this to
the notice of the Ministry."
© Copyright 2000 - 2004 The Hindu
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